Short answer: the Edifier MR3. It ranks #8 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $109.99; the Edifier MR5 ranks #52, rated 3.3/5, and costs $329, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The MR5 is the bigger, more capable system. It is an active three-way with a 5-inch woofer, a dedicated 3.75-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter, driven by 110W in total, while the MR3 is a compact two-way with a 3.5-inch woofer and 36W. The MR5 reaches about 51Hz at -3dB in Erin’s measurements; the MR3 is 3dB down at 70Hz and 10dB down by 53Hz, so the MR5 delivers far more bass without a subwoofer and plays louder before it strains.
The MR3 is the more even of the two through the midrange and treble. Erin’s data gives the MR3 preference scores of 3.91 on its own and 6.53 with an ideal subwoofer, with little overall tilt. The MR5’s measurements show upper midrange and treble irregularities and an off-axis response that narrows quickly above about 2 to 3kHz, so its tonal balance changes more as you move around the room.
Their connections are close. Both have balanced TRS, RCA and aux inputs, a front headphone output, rear tone controls and room compensation in the ConneX app. The MR5 adds balanced XLR and LDAC Bluetooth, where the MR3 uses Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC only. The MR3 is far smaller and lighter, at 220mm tall and 3.85kg per pair against 264mm and 10.38kg for the MR5.
Buy the Edifier MR3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Edifier MR5 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR3 | Edifier MR5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 per pair | $329.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #52 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Dimensions | 8.7"H x 4.9"W x 7.3"D (220 x 125.5 x 185 mm) (active); 220H x 125.5W x 176D mm (passive) | 6.3"W x 10.4"H x 11"D (159 x 264 x 280 mm) (active); 159W x 264H x 257D mm (passive) |
| EQ | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) | Yes (app EQ and rear high/low controls) |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 46Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) | 22.9 lbs (10.38 kg) |
| Drivers | 3.5" mid-low driver, 1" silk dome tweeter | 5-inch woofer + 3.75-inch midrange + 1-inch silk-dome tweeter (each) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes, 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | LDAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Amplifier Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) | 110W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 101dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.91 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.53 | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone | 3.5mm headphone |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| Measurement Source | - | Erin's Audio Corner |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier MR3: $109.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s measurements show little overall tilt across the listening window, helping voices retain a broadly natural balance at a desk. Scores of 3.91 standalone and 6.53 with an ideal subwoofer support it as a useful budget nearfield option rather than a reference monitor. Tone controls and app-based EQ provide unusually flexible adjustment, and its bass extends farther than the Fostex PM03’s. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.3dB.
Cons: Local response ripples remain: the measured 300Hz-5kHz span is 4.5dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.538. Bass reaches -3dB at about 70Hz. The limiter protects the drivers but prevents much extra loudness when pushed; existing compression testing puts effective single-speaker output around 86-87dB at 1m. Vertical crossover interference makes tweeter height and tilt important.
Full Edifier MR3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7"H x 4.9"W x 7.3"D (220 x 125.5 x 185 mm) (active); 220H x 125.5W x 176D mm (passive) |
| Drivers | 3.5" mid-low driver, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.53 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
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Edifier MR5: $329.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s Audio Corner measured useful bass for a compact 5-inch monitor, with F3 around 51Hz. The three-way active design adds a dedicated 3.75-inch midrange, and the 110W RMS system, app EQ, room-compensation controls, LDAC, balanced XLR/TRS inputs, and front headphone output make it unusually well equipped at $329 per pair. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Erin’s CTA-2034 data shows upper-midrange and treble irregularities, while off-axis response narrows more quickly than ideal above about 2–3kHz. Bass output is level-limited below about 70Hz and distortion/compression rise at higher levels, so it suits moderate nearfield use better than loud mid-field playback.
Full Edifier MR5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 110W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3"W x 10.4"H x 11"D (159 x 264 x 280 mm) (active); 159W x 264H x 257D mm (passive) |
| Drivers | 5-inch woofer + 3.75-inch midrange + 1-inch silk-dome tweeter (each) |
| EQ | Yes (app EQ and rear high/low controls) |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) |
| Measurement Source | Erin's Audio Corner |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.38 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons